HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky baseball (13-17, 11-12 Horizon League) plays a four-game series this weekend against Wright State (14-10, 13-3 Horizon League) at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.  
     
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. WRIGHT STATE  
Friday, April 23 (DH) – Bill Aker Baseball Complex – 12:00 p.m. ET – ESPN+   
Sunday, April 25 (DH) – Bill Aker Baseball Complex – 12:00 p.m. ET – ESPN+  
    
SERIES HISTORY     
Wright State currently leads the series, 28-12. The Raiders defeated the Norse, 13-1, on getaway day in the last matchup earlier this season on March 7, 2021.  
     
LAST TIME OUT     
The Norse split a series with Youngstown State last weekend but had fantastic starting pitching in the first three games, losing game two by a slim, 1-0, duel. A pair of three-hit performances from Noah Fisher and Jayden Wakeham, as well as an eight-inning deep performance by Ben Gerl on the mound snagged game one of the series, 9-7. Noah Richardson gave the Norse their second win of the series, 7-2, with the best Norse pitching performance of the season, tossing a complete nine-inning game without walking a batter and giving up six hits.    
 
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE 
Since the Norse saw the Raiders last, Wright State continues to roll through Horizon League play with a 13-3 mark, dropping only three games to Youngstown State. Four batters continue to hit over .300: Sammy Sass (.367), Tyler Black (.365), Zane Harris (.338) and Konner Piotto (.303). Black, a sophomore infielder and former freshman All-American, has been the star for the Raiders with an impressive .694 slugging rate and a team-high seven home runs. Jake Schrand (2-4, 5.35 ERA), Bradley Brehmer (4-2, 3.52 ERA), Austin Cline (4-1, 1.88 ERA) and Alex Theis (1-0, 4.42 ERA) will get the starts for the Raiders this weekend in order, respectively.  
     
PROBABLES     
After an impressive midseason surge, Richardson (3-0, 3.12 ERA) will get the game one nod with the task of going a full seven innings for NKU. Gerl (3-3, 6.50 ERA) will follow up in game two of the Friday doubleheader, while Kyle Klingenbeck (3-4, 6.08 ERA) and Bryson Lonsbury (0-1, 12.94 ERA) will be on the mound for Sunday's games.  
     
HOME-RUN KING     
NKU returns the 2019 College Home Run Derby Champion for his senior season. Doersching, took the 10th annual prize in Omaha, Nebraska, after clubbing 20 home runs to Tyler Keenan's (Ole Miss) 15 in the final round. In the 2019 season, Doersching smacked 13 out of the park, had a .503 slugging percentage and drove in 44 runs. He has been a machine this season, carrying a .300/.710/.462 slash line and Horizon League-leading 11 home runs. With a combination of his newfound pitch-pickiness and frightening power, he currently leads the Horizon League with 29 walks on the year. At 38 career home runs, he is the sole owner of second in the all-time record books and is chasing John Heeter's 48. Last week, Doersching was named the seventh-best draft-eligible hitter by D1Baseball.  
 
RICHARDSON'S ASCENT 
After starting the year primarily as a reliever, Richardson has taken his pitching to an entirely new level, winning as the starter in three of his last four appearances and grabbing a three-inning save in the other. He's allowed just five earned runs across 26 innings pitched in that span, while fanning an impressive 31 batters for an electric 10.7 K/9. In his last start against Youngstown State, Richardson went all nine innings atop the mound, allowing two runs on six hits and no batters walked.  
 
MOSS GROWS ON THE SIDE FACING HOME     
After a solid freshman season that saw him hit .297, outfielder Treyvin Moss picked up where he left off a season ago. He currently bats at a .296 clip and his 20 RBIs are second to Doersching's 26 for the Norse. He also has the most multiple-hit games (eight) for NKU this season.    
   
ONE-TWO PUNCH    
The Norse arguably have their best game one and game two starting-pitcher combination in the Division I era this season. Although Gerl is just 3-3 on the year, he's gone at least five innings on the mound in all but one game, dished six strikeouts an appearance, and has yielded more than four runs just twice. Klingenbeck has been just as lethal, pitching two complete games and allowing two runs or less on four occasions.     
    
NOTHING TASTES BETTER THAN BACON     
Andrew Bacon came alive in the 2020 season, ending it on a 13-game hitting streak. The senior carried a .303/.470/.342 slash line, smashed out a Horizon League-leading three home runs, and batted in 15 runners, which also led the league. He is currently hitting .261 with 16 RBIs and 17 runs scored, but after a slow start to this season Bacon has hit .322 (19-of-59) in the last 17 games.    
  
NEW YEAR, NEW NORSE     
In total, 10 players joined the Norse over the offseason: Camden Brandt, AJ Clegg, Gerl, Lucas Gulczynski, Michael Hall, Liam McFadden-Ackman, Josh Romans, Tyson Shaw, Bryce Smith and Bryce Thomas.      
     
ONE FINAL RIDE     
On Feb. 26, head coach Todd Asalon announced that the 2021 season will be his last as he is retiring at season's end. Now in his 21st year with the Norse, Asalon owns a 560-572-1 record. He guided the Norse through its Division I transition, which began in the 2013 season, and helped NKU post its winningest Division I season in 2017 with a 25-33 record. Prior to the Division I era, he led NKU to the NCAA Division II tournament in eight-consecutive seasons.      
     
Joining Asalon on his staff are his assistants and former Norse Dizzy Peyton (14th season) and Pat Hyde (sixth season). Accompanying them is Matthew James, who is in his second season with NKU.